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Child & PLAY Therapy
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Children face challenges in life, much in the same way as adults, but because they have not fully developed, many children are unable to talk about what is difficult. The younger the child, the more limited their ability to use words to process their emotions and make sense of things that have happened. Instead, children use the language of symbols while they play to understand what they feel, think, and how to relate to the world in which they live. Lighthouse has several therapists that specialize in child and play therapy in a warm, safe environment where children can process, integrate and release emotions, memories, and traumas that may be creating difficulty in their lives.

PLAY THERAPY
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Play therapy is an appropriate support for most children’s challenges and difficulties because the focus in therapy is always on the whole person of the child as opposed to specific behaviour or circumstances. We use the time in session to notice the challenges, teach emotional and nervous system regulation, create a safe space for the child to express what it feels like to be them, and gather information about what they might need to overcome their challenge. Research and experience show that play therapy has been helpful with concerns such as:

anxiety and worries
withdrawal, sadness, depression
aggression, acting out, violence
difficulties with impulse control
tantrums, uncontrollable emotions
distractibility, school challenges, adhd

trauma (for example: car accidents, abuse, neglect, injury)
grief and loss
behaviours or anxiety associated with autism spectrum disorders
hard to understand or diagnose challenging behaviour

Kamloops Childrens Play Therapy - Lighthouse Therapy

Copy of Lighthouse Expressive Therapy Rachael Pasemko Childrens Therapy in British Columbia

Copy of Lighthouse Expressive Therapy Childrens Therapy in Kamloops

Copy of Lighthouse Expressive Therapy Play Therapy in Kamloops

Copy of Lighthouse Expressive Therapy Childrens Therapy in Kamloops British Columbia

The way that we often notice that children are experiencing difficulty is by changes in their behaviour and how well they manage their emotions. There might be changes in mood, eating patterns, sleeping, they may have nightmares, meltdowns or new fears of things that were previously accepted, the child may be withdrawn or show clinginess or have separation anxiety. Children express what they have experienced and what is affecting them using the language of play. In play therapy, children make sense of past experiences, practice difficult current circumstances, and try out solutions for the future. Play is the language of children and a play therapist is specially trained to work with children using the symbolic language of play.

If you have any questions about play therapy for your family please contact one of our child therapists directly to explore if what we offer is a fit for what your child and family needs.